JP2018192002A - Endoscope apparatus and imaging method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an endoscope apparatus that can operate at such a frame rate and a compression rate as maintaining an optimum transmission rate depending on a type/mode of an optical adaptor and a type of an insertion part.SOLUTION: An endoscope apparatus 1 includes: an imaging part 3 including a photoelectric conversion part 31 for photoelectrically converting an optical signal into a video signal and a compression part 32 for compressing the video signal; and CPU part (control part) 57 for changing a compression rate of compression of the video signal in accordance with a preset condition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus and an imaging method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an endoscope apparatus that includes an endoscope that obtains an observation image by inserting an insertion portion into an observation target and a display unit that displays the observation image is generally used.

  In this type of endoscope apparatus, an inspection is performed while observing an observation image displayed on a display unit such as a monitor, that is, an endoscope image, at the same time as inserting the insertion portion of the endoscope into an observation site. Therefore, for the inspector, the inspection can be performed without a sense of incongruity, and a desired observation image can be reliably displayed and recognized on the monitor or the like.

  In the actual inspection, the inspector performs only a simple inspection at the inspection site, records the captured endoscopic image in a moving image file, etc., and then reproduces the moving image file for detailed inspection. May be implemented. In such a case, it is required to effectively use the capacity of a recording medium for recording a moving image file or the like.

  In view of this, there has been proposed an endoscope apparatus that detects the amount of movement of the insertion portion of the endoscope and changes the imaging conditions in accordance with the amount of movement. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an endoscope apparatus that can reduce the amount of data to be recorded on a recording medium in accordance with the moving speed of the distal end of the insertion portion, and can efficiently use the capacity of the recording medium. ing.

  In this endoscope apparatus, an acceleration sensor is provided at the distal end of the insertion portion, and the moving speed of the insertion portion is calculated based on a value output from the acceleration sensor. When the moving speed of the insertion portion is high, the image is prevented from being missed by increasing the frame rate of the moving image to be recorded. Further, when the moving speed of the insertion portion is slow, the capacity of the recording medium is saved by reducing the frame rate of the moving image to be recorded.

JP 2012-14129 A

  In an endoscope apparatus like patent document 1, when the insertion part becomes long, since the transmission rate which can be transmitted becomes small, it is necessary to make a frame rate small according to it. When the frame rate is made too small, there is a problem that the normal observation is affected. Also, if the attached optical adapter is an optical adapter that switches between multiple optical paths (measurement optical adapter or direct-view / side-view switching optical adapter), rolling shutter distortion can be reduced by increasing the frame rate. Although it can be expected, there is a problem that the configuration of the endoscope apparatus of Patent Document 1 cannot cope with it.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can reduce the influence of rolling shutter distortion by increasing the frame rate while allowing long transmission of image data without reducing the number of pixels. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope apparatus that can perform the above-described operation. It is another object of the present invention to provide an endoscope apparatus that can operate at a frame rate and a compression rate so as to obtain an optimum transmission rate according to the type / mode of the optical adapter and the type of the insertion unit.

  In order to solve the above problems, an endoscope apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an imaging unit including a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts an optical signal into a video signal, and a compression unit that compresses the video signal. A control unit that changes a compression rate of the video signal according to a preset condition.

  An imaging method according to an aspect of the present invention is an imaging method using an endoscope apparatus including an imaging unit including a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts an optical signal into a video signal, and a compression unit that compresses the video signal. An insertion unit determination step for determining the type of the insertion unit, and a step of changing the compression rate and / or the frame rate according to the type of the insertion unit determined in the insertion unit determination step. Prepare.

  An imaging method according to an aspect of the present invention is an imaging method using an endoscope apparatus including an imaging unit including a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts an optical signal into a video signal, and a compression unit that compresses the video signal. An optical adapter determining step for determining a type of an optical adapter to be mounted on the imaging unit, and the compression rate and / or the frame rate according to the type of the optical adapter determined in the optical adapter determining step. And a step of changing.

  According to the endoscope apparatus according to each aspect of the present invention, it is possible to transmit image data long without reducing the number of pixels, and at the same time, reduce the influence of rolling shutter distortion by increasing the frame rate. be able to. In addition, it is possible to provide an endoscope apparatus that can operate at a frame rate and a compression rate that provide an optimum transmission rate according to the type / mode of the optical adapter and the type of the insertion unit.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the compression rate change process based on the classification of the insertion part of the endoscope apparatus based on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a table which shows the response | compatibility of the length of an insertion part, and the compression rate in the compression rate change process based on the classification of the insertion part of the endoscope apparatus based on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the frame rate / compression rate change process based on the classification of the optical adapter of the endoscope apparatus based on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a table which shows a response | compatibility with the length of an insertion part, and a frame rate / compression rate in the frame rate / compression rate change process based on the classification of the optical adapter of the endoscope apparatus based on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the frame rate / compression rate change process based on the mode of the optical adapter of the endoscope apparatus based on 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The endoscope apparatus 1 includes an optical adapter 2, an imaging unit 3, an insertion unit 4, and a main body unit 5. The insertion portion 4 is an elongated tubular shape that can be bent from the distal end to the proximal end portion, and is inserted into the subject. The imaging unit 3 is provided at the distal end of the insertion unit 4, and the optical adapter 2 is attached to the imaging unit 3. A main body portion 5 is provided at the proximal end portion of the insertion portion 4.

  The optical adapter 2 includes an optical adapter type determination unit 21. The optical adapter type determination unit 21 determines the type of the optical adapter 2 by, for example, reading a resistance value embedded in the optical adapter 2. In the present embodiment, the optical adapter 2 is an optical path switching type optical adapter (measurement optical adapter or direct view / side view switching type optical adapter), and includes an optical system that forms a plurality of parallax optical paths. By switching a plurality of optical paths in series, a single imaging unit 3 can form a subject image having a plurality of parallaxes.

  The imaging unit 3 includes a photoelectric conversion unit 31, a compression unit 32, a serialization unit 33, and a control IF unit 34. The photoelectric conversion unit 31 photoelectrically converts the subject image formed via the optical adapter 2 at the frame rate of the object, and generates a video signal (RAW image data). The video signal is input to the compression unit 32 and compressed at a desired compression rate. The compressed video signal is input to the serialization unit 33. The serialization unit 33 serializes the compressed video signal to serial data, and sequentially outputs serial data signals. The control IF unit 34 controls the photoelectric conversion unit 31, the compression unit 32, and the serialization unit 33.

  The insertion unit 4 includes an insertion unit type determination unit 41. The insertion unit type determination unit 41 determines the type of the insertion unit 4 by, for example, reading a resistance value embedded in the insertion unit 4. The type of the insertion unit 4 includes the length of the insertion unit 4 and the size of the diameter of the transmission path in the insertion unit. The serial data signal is transmitted to the main body unit 5 through a composite coaxial line provided in the insertion unit 4.

  The main unit 5 includes a deserialization unit 51, a decompression unit 52, an image processing unit 53, a control IF unit 54, an optical adapter type detection unit 55, an insertion unit type detection unit 56, and a CPU unit 57 (control unit). ), A recording medium 58, a display unit 59, and an operation unit 60.

  The serial data signal transmitted from the imaging unit 3 via the insertion unit 4 is input to the deserialization unit 51. The deserialization unit 51 performs a deserialization process on the transmitted serial data signal and decodes it into a parallel signal. The decompressing unit 52 decompresses the parallel signal and restores the video signal output from the photoelectric conversion unit 31. The image processing unit 53 performs image processing on the video signal and transmits the image data to the CPU unit 57. The CPU unit 57 displays image data (video) on the display unit 59 and records a still image or a moving image on the recording medium 58 based on a user operation on the operation unit 60.

  The control IF unit 54 transmits control signals from the image processing unit 53 and the CPU unit 57 to the control IF unit 34 of the imaging unit 3 via the insertion unit 4. The optical adapter type detection unit 55 receives the information (data) of the type of the optical adapter 2 read by the optical adapter type determination unit 21 and transmits it to the CPU unit 57. Thereby, the CPU unit 57 determines the type of the optical adapter 2. The insertion unit type detection unit 56 receives the information (data) of the type of the insertion unit 4 read by the insertion unit type determination unit 41 and transmits it to the CPU unit 57. Thereby, the CPU unit 57 determines the type of the insertion unit 4. In this way, the CPU unit 57 determines the type of the optical adapter 2 and the type of the insertion unit 4.

  The imaging unit 3 performs high-speed transmission, but there is a transmission limit based on the length and diameter of the insertion unit 4. If the transmission limit is exceeded, video cannot be displayed. In addition, when the attached optical adapter is of a type that switches a plurality of optical paths, the same image quality cannot be obtained unless a larger number of frames are transmitted than in the case of an optical adapter that uses a single optical path.

  Therefore, the CPU unit 57 determines an optimal frame rate / compression rate according to the type of the optical adapter 2 and the type of the insertion unit 4, and the endoscope apparatus operates based on the determined frame rate / compression rate.

  Next, the compression rate changing process based on the type of the insertion unit of the endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the compression rate changing process based on the type of the insertion unit of the endoscope apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the compression rate of the video signal in the compression unit 32 is changed according to the type of the insertion unit 4.

  When the apparatus is activated, first, the insertion unit type detection unit 56 of the main body unit 5 reads information (data) of the insertion unit type determination unit 41 of the insertion unit 4 (step S11) and transmits it to the CPU unit 57. The CPU unit 57 determines the type of the insertion unit 4 based on the transmitted data (step S12). In the CPU unit 57, type information regarding various types of the insertion unit 4 is stored in a database. The type information of the insertion unit 4 includes the length of the insertion unit 4 and the size of the diameter of the transmission path in the insertion unit.

  FIG. 3 shows the correspondence between the length of the insertion unit 4 and the transmittable transmission rate and compression rate in the compression rate changing process based on the length of the insertion unit of the endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. It is a table. In FIG. 3, the frame rate is fixed at 60 fps. As shown in the table of FIG. 3, a transmission rate and a compression rate that can be transmitted are determined in advance for each length of the insertion unit 4. Based on this table, the CPU unit 57 determines the compression rate so as to obtain a transmission rate that can be transmitted, and sends a command for changing (setting) the compression rate to the compression unit 32 via the control IF units 54 and 34. Transmit (step S13).

  Further, the CPU 57 sets the decompression rate in the decompression unit 52 so as to correspond to the compression rate set by the compression unit 32 (step S14). Thereby, the compression unit 32 compresses the video signal with the set compression rate, and the decompression unit 52 performs decompression with the decompression rate corresponding to the set compression rate.

  By performing the compression rate changing process in this way, it is possible to perform long transmission of image data while maintaining the frame rate. Also, since the compression rate is determined by automatically determining the type of the insertion portion, no complicated work is required. In the present embodiment, the optical adapter 2 does not contribute to the compression ratio change, and therefore can be applied even when the optical adapter 2 is not provided. In that case, the optical adapter type detection part 55 is unnecessary among the structures of FIG.

  Next, the frame rate / compression rate changing process based on the type of the optical adapter of the endoscope apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the frame rate / compression rate changing process based on the type of the optical adapter of the endoscope apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, when the type of the optical adapter 2 is an optical path switching type, the frame rate of photoelectric conversion in the photoelectric conversion unit 31 is increased, and the compression rate of the video signal in the compression unit 32 is increased.

  When the apparatus is activated, first, the optical adapter type detection unit 55 of the main body unit 5 reads the information (data) of the optical adapter type determination unit 21 of the optical adapter 2 (step S21) and transmits it to the CPU unit 57. The CPU unit 57 determines the type of the optical adapter type determination unit 21 based on the transmitted data (step S22). In the CPU 57, type information relating to the type of the optical adapter is stored in a database, and by determining the type, it is recognized whether or not the optical adapter 2 is an optical path switching type (step S23).

  When the optical adapter 2 is not an optical path switching type, the compression rate and frame rate settings are not changed. When the optical adapter 2 is an optical path switching type, the CPU unit 57 determines the frame rate / compression rate so as to obtain a transmission rate at which transmission is possible.

  FIG. 5 shows the length of the insertion unit 4, the transmittable transmission rate, and the frame rate / compression rate in the frame rate / compression rate changing process based on the type of the optical adapter of the endoscope apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a table which shows correspondence of these. As shown in the table of FIG. 5, the transmission rate and the frame rate / compression rate that can be transmitted are determined in advance for each length of the insertion unit 4. Based on this table, the CPU unit 57 determines the frame rate / compression rate so as to obtain a transmission rate that can be transmitted, and compresses a command to increase (set) the compression rate via the control IF units 54 and 34. It transmits to the part 32 (step S24).

  Further, the CPU unit 57 sets the decompression rate in the decompression unit 52 so as to correspond to the compression rate set in the compression unit 32 (step S25). Thereby, the compression unit 32 compresses the video signal with the set compression rate, and the decompression unit 52 performs decompression with the decompression rate corresponding to the set compression rate.

  Further, the CPU unit 57 transmits a command to increase (set) the photoelectric conversion frame rate to the photoelectric conversion unit 31 (step S26). As a result, the photoelectric conversion unit 31 performs photoelectric conversion at the set frame rate to generate a video signal.

  In addition, the CPU unit 57 transmits the set frame rate to the image processing unit 53 (step S27). Accordingly, the image processing unit 53 performs image processing on the video signal based on the set frame rate.

  In addition, the CPU unit 57 sets the set frame rate in the image capturing unit in the CPU unit 57 (step S28). Thereby, the CPU unit 57 takes in the image data from the image processing unit 57 based on the set frame rate, displays the image data on the display unit 59, and records a still image or a moving image on the recording medium 58.

  By performing the frame rate / compression rate changing process in this manner, it is possible to perform long transmission of image data. Further, since the type of the optical adapter is automatically determined to determine the frame rate and the compression rate, complicated work is unnecessary.

  In the present embodiment, since the compression rate changing process based on the type of the insertion unit 4 is not performed, the insertion unit type determination unit 41 and the insertion unit type detection unit 56 may be omitted from the configuration of FIG.

  Next, the frame rate / compression rate changing process based on the mode of the optical adapter of the endoscope apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the frame rate / compression rate changing process based on the mode of the optical adapter of the endoscope apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the frame rate of photoelectric conversion in the photoelectric conversion unit 31 and the compression rate of the video signal in the compression unit 32 are changed according to the mode of the optical adapter 2.

  When the apparatus is activated, first, the optical adapter type detection unit 55 of the main body unit 5 reads information (data) of the optical adapter type determination unit 21 of the optical adapter 2 (step S31) and transmits it to the CPU unit 57. The CPU unit 57 determines the type of the optical adapter type determination unit 21 based on the transmitted data (step S32). Here, in the present embodiment, the operation unit 60 receives an instruction to change the frame rate, and the mode of the optical adapter is changed. That is, the CPU unit 57 determines whether or not there is an instruction to change the frame rate (instruction to change the setting) from the operation unit 60 (step S33).

  If there is no instruction to change the frame rate, the compression rate and frame rate settings are not changed. When there is an instruction to change the frame rate, the CPU unit 57 determines the compression rate so as to obtain a transmission rate that can be transmitted, and an instruction to change (set) the compression rate via the control IF units 54 and 34. Is transmitted to the compression unit 32 (step S34).

  Further, the CPU unit 57 sets the decompression rate in the decompression unit 52 so as to correspond to the compression rate set in the compression unit 32 (step S35). Thereby, the compression unit 32 compresses the video signal with the set compression rate, and the decompression unit 52 performs decompression with the decompression rate corresponding to the set compression rate.

  Further, the CPU unit 57 transmits an instruction to change (set) the photoelectric conversion frame rate to the photoelectric conversion unit 31 (step S36). As a result, the photoelectric conversion unit 31 performs photoelectric conversion at the set frame rate to generate a video signal.

  The CPU unit 57 transmits the set frame rate to the image processing unit 53 (step S37). Accordingly, the image processing unit 53 performs image processing on the video signal based on the set frame rate.

  In addition, the CPU unit 57 sets the set frame rate in the image capturing unit in the CPU unit 57 (step S38). Thereby, the CPU unit 57 takes in the image data from the image processing unit 57 based on the set frame rate, displays the image data on the display unit 59, and records a still image or a moving image on the recording medium 58.

  By performing the frame rate / compression rate changing process in this manner, it is possible to perform long transmission of image data. Further, since the frame rate and the compression rate are determined by automatically determining the type of the optical adapter and the type of the insertion portion, no complicated work is required.

  In the present embodiment, since the compression rate changing process based on the type of the insertion unit 4 is not performed, the insertion unit type determination unit 41 and the insertion unit type detection unit 56 may be omitted from the configuration of FIG.

  In the above description, the compression rate changing process based on the length of the insertion portion is performed in the first embodiment, and the frame rate / compression rate changing process based on the type of the optical adapter is performed in the second embodiment. In the embodiment, the frame rate / compression ratio changing process based on the mode of the optical adapter is performed. However, these embodiments may be appropriately combined. That is, the frame rate / compression rate changing process may be performed based on two or more of the type / mode of the optical adapter and the length of the insertion portion.

  In the above description, the compression rate is set based on the length of the insertion unit as the type of the insertion unit. However, based on the size of the diameter of the transmission path in the insertion unit as the type of the insertion unit. A compression rate may be set.

  As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these embodiment and its modification. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope apparatus, 2 ... Optical adapter, 3 ... Imaging part, 4 ... Insertion part, 5 ... Main part, 21 ... Optical adapter classification | category determination part, 31 ... Photoelectric conversion part, 32 ... Compression part, 33 ... Serialization part , 34... Control IF section, 41... Insertion section type discrimination section, 51... Deserialization section, 52... Decompression section, 53 ... Image processing section, 54 ... Control IF section, 55 ... Optical adapter type detection section, 56. Type detection unit 57 ... CPU unit 58 ... recording medium 59 ... display unit 60 ... insertion unit

Claims (11)

An imaging unit including a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts an optical signal into a video signal, and a compression unit that compresses the video signal;
A control unit that changes a compression rate of the compression of the video signal in accordance with a preset condition;
An endoscopic device comprising:   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further changes a frame rate of the photoelectric conversion in accordance with a preset condition. It further includes an insertion part determination unit that determines the type of the insertion part,
The control unit changes the compression rate according to the type of the insertion unit determined by the insertion unit determination unit.
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The type of the insertion part includes information on the length of the insertion part,
The control unit performs control to increase the compression rate as the length of the insertion unit determined by the insertion unit determination unit is longer.
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 3. The type of the insertion part includes information on the diameter of the transmission line included in the insertion part,
The control unit performs control to change the compression rate according to the diameter of the transmission line included in the insertion unit determined by the insertion unit determination unit.
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 3 or 4. An optical adapter discriminating unit for discriminating the type of optical adapter to be mounted on the imaging unit;
The control unit changes the compression rate and / or the frame rate according to the type of the optical adapter determined by the optical adapter determination unit.
The endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit performs control to increase the compression rate when the type of the optical adapter determined by the optical adapter determination unit is a type capable of switching a plurality of optical paths. .   The internal control according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the control unit performs control to increase the frame rate when the type of the optical adapter determined by the optical adapter determination unit is a type capable of switching a plurality of optical paths. Mirror device.   The control unit performs control to change the frame rate when there is an instruction to change the frame rate by an operation unit according to the type of the optical adapter determined by the optical adapter determination unit. The endoscope apparatus according to any one of 8. An imaging method using an endoscope apparatus including an imaging unit having a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts an optical signal into a video signal, and a compression unit that compresses the video signal,
An insertion part determining step for determining the type of the insertion part;
Changing the compression rate and / or the frame rate according to the type of the insertion part determined in the insertion part determination step;
An imaging method comprising: An imaging method using an endoscope apparatus including an imaging unit having a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts an optical signal into a video signal, and a compression unit that compresses the video signal,
An optical adapter determining step for determining the type of the optical adapter to be mounted on the imaging unit;
Changing the compression rate and / or the frame rate according to the type of the optical adapter determined in the optical adapter determination step;
An imaging method comprising:

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